Matrix malfeeding detection system for line-casting machines



3 5 8 0 8 8 2 R O F M E mm L Aw nwm Iml ETA, l Noma E .l ETG EENl DI... RGTT G SD. MMA Rmwm Hmmm WLF X I Dn m April 7, 1959 INVENTOR. J/afvfg Bn-:cpe Byjyrber'JV. aT/ow nited States Patent MATRIX MALFEEDING DETECTION SYSTEM FOR LINE-CASTING MACHINES Harry R. Greene and Herbert N. Barlow, Miami, Fla., assignors to Knight Newspapers, Inc., Miami, Fla., a corporation of Ohio Application April 18, 1958, Serial No. 729,451

12 Claims. (Cl. 199-18) This invention relates totype line-casting machines and, in particular, to matrix malfeeding detecting systems for line-casting machines.

Hitherto, in the operation of typeline castin-g machines,

such as are used in newspaper printing establishments, the work of such a machine has frequently proved faultybecause of the descent of an extra matrix from the matrix magazine through the matrix chute, or the failure of a matrix to descend therethrough at the desired time, with the result that the double response of a type character or the failure of a matrix to fall can go undetected until proofs of the cast type are ready. AS` a result of such faults, all of the'type from the linecasting machine has been rendered useless until the faulty condition was detected and corrected and the malfunction of the keyboard and release mechanism associated with the line-casting machine` remedied. The present invention provides an electro-magnetic device including sensitive relays which are operated to halt the linecasting machine in response to the action of a photoelectric cell which detects when a matrix has failed to descend through the matrix chute from the'matrix magazine when desired, or when two matrices have descended when only one was desired, causing the linefcasting machine to remain halted until the Atrouble has been remedied.

- Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a matrix-detecting device for type line `casting machines which will halt the machine almost instantly when a matrix has failed to `descend or more than one matrix has descended when only a single matrixis'desired, such as, for example, when a matrix becomesl stuck inthe matrix chute. l

Another object is to provide* a matrix fault-detecting device for type line casting 'machines wherein the electrica-l-.circuit which the device includes contains a` pair of stepping relays, the first of which is controlled by`a switch in response to each selection of'a type character and the second of which is controlled by va-"photo-electric cell circuit through a sensitive relay to advance one'istep for each matrix which is released from the matrix maga'- zine and momentarily interrupts the light beam from the light source to the photo-electric cell.

Anotherobject is to provide a matrix fault-detecting device for type' line casting machines, of the foregoing character, wherein each of the stepping relays has two banks of contacts which .are so connected in the circuit that if either of these relays advances vwithout a corresponding advance of the other relay, the circuit' will be actuated to operate a locking relay which automatically halts, the line-casting machine 'by energizing a stop solenoid to vhalt the T eletypese'tter operating unit of the linecasting-machine and prevents its subsequent operation until the'matrix jammingthe matrix channel, or thed'ouble: matrices' which-have descended through the channel have been removed' or the'Other-Source 'ofi improperl matrix delivery remedied.

2,880,853 Patented Apr. 7, 1959 ice - tact resetting switch which is associated with the stepping relays and which, when operated, causes the stepping relays to return to their proper relationship, de-energizes the locking relay or relays which prevent the line-casting machine'from operating, and re-energizes the stop solenoidv or other means of controlling the Teletypesetter operating unit of the machine until the resetting switch is released by the operator.

vOther objects andradvantages of the invention will become apparent during the following description of the accompanying drawing which shows diagrammatically the electrical circuit of a matrix fault-detecting device for type-'casting machines, according to one form of the invention. Referring to the drawing in detail, the wiring'diagram set forth therein shows a matrix fault-detecting system, generally designated 4, supplied withy high voltage alternating current supply lines 6 -and 8, such as the ordinary 115- volt alternating current circuits of common domestic and industrial use. The system 4 includes a direct current control sub-circuit 10 supplied with direct current from a rectifying unit 12 connected to the high voltagealternating current supply lines 6 and 8.( The controlsub-circuit 10 in turn exercises control over a low voltage direct current controlled subcircuit 14 which `is energized from a direct current source of relatively low voltage, suchas, for example, 24 volts, asf-explained more fully below. The subcircuit 14 has connected in series therewith a Teletypesetterstop solenoid 9 which, as its name signifies, is effective, when energized, to halt the loperation of the Teletypesetter unit of the line-casting machine. I ,k

Connected in parallel between the alternating current supply lines 6 and 8 is a stepdown transformer 16 which serves to energize the low-voltage photo-electric cell light source 18, as described in more detail below, and this in turn, according to the interruption of the light beam from it, exercises control over a photo-electric cell 20. Also included in the control subcircuit 10 in a sensitive relay 22, the operating Vcoil of which is in series with the photo-electric cell 20, and a pair of so-called stepping relays 24 and 26, each equipped with two banks of contacts, as explained more fully below.

The control subcircuit 10 also includes the operating coils of a pair of lock relays 28 and 30 which in turn control'the energization of the lines 32 and 34 of the controlled subcircuit 14. The lines 32 and 34 are connect'ed to a conventional direct current supply source (not shown) of relatively low voltage, such "as '24 volts, as stated above, and the line 34 has the operating coil 36 ofy a Teletypesetter stop solenoid connected in series therewith. Associated with the stepping relaysl 24 and 26' and included therewith by the manufacturers thereof is a push-button-operated multiple blade or gang switch, commonly referred to as a relay resetting switchandnot generally designated by a reference numeral because of the wide separation of its component switches, which are separately designated 40, 42 and 44. vThe component switch 40 is a single-pole double-throw switch which, with the component switch 42, is a single-pole singlethrow switch, causes the stepping relays 24 and 26 to return to their proper relationships when thrown out of relationship by the malfunctioning of the machine through a faulty delivery or non-delivery of a'matrixv or matrices. The component-switch 4,0 also, when ener-1 gized, opens the holding circuit of the lock relays 28 and 30, whereas the component switch 44, when actuated, bridges the circuit between the lines 32 and 34 of the controlled subcircuit 14 so as to energize the stop solenoid 9 of the Teletypesetter operating unit as long as the push button which actuates the component switches 40, 42 and 44 simultaneously is depressed. In the wiring diagram of the drawing, the chain lines passing through the operating coils of the relays 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 to their respective switch blades indicate a mechanical operating connection therebetween. Due to the wide separati-ons of the component switches 40, 42 and 44, it is not practical to draw chain lines between their respective switch blades to indicate a mechanical connection effecting simultaneous operation thereof, as by means of a common push button (not shown). The various relays 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30 and the other indi.- vidual electrical components of the system 4 are conventional, known to electrical engineers and available on the market and their details are beyond the scope of the present invention.

:Further included in the system is a variable resistor46 in series with the photo-electric cell 20 and sensitive relay 22, fuses 48 50 and 52, and a pair of signal lamps 56 and 58 of different colors, that of the lamp 56 being assumed, for ydescription of the operation, to be red and that of the lamp 58 tobe white. Obviously, other suitable colors may be used for this purpose. Also included linthe system 10 are a fixed condenser or capaciltor 60 of 40 mf. rating and a fixed condenser 62 of 1K2 to l6 mf. rating, the latter being connected across the operating coil of the first stepping relay to give it a slightly delayed action. rIhe rectiiier unit 12 includes four rectiers respectively vdesignated 64, 66, 68 and 70. Additionally .provided adjacent the stepping relay 24 on the drawing but mounted beneath the conventional Teletypesetter operating unit in the line-casting machine yis a switch 7.2 which closes each time a type character irnpulse causes the bellcranks (not shown) of the Teletype- Setter operating unitto operate. The light source 18 for the photo-electric cell and the cell 2t) itself are mounted `in horizontal .alginment on a level immediately below the bottom of the matrix magazine and above the mouths of the matrix chutes in the line-casting machine (not shown) so. as to cause the light beam from the light source to the photoelectric cell 20 to bev interrupted each time a vmatrix drops into its particular chute'.

.The stepdown transformer 16 has a primary winding 74 connected in parallel between the alternating current input lines 16 and 18 and has a stepdown secondary winding 76,` preferably reducing the 11S-volt current from the lines 1 6 and 18 to 6 volts for supplying such low-voltage alternating current through the lines 78 and 80 to the photo-electric cell light source 18 which is ordinarily a -volt incandescent light bulb. The alternating current supply lines 16 and v18 run to opposite sides of the rectilier unit Av12 from which vdirect current output lines S2 and 84 run to the remainder of the subcircuit 10.

The photo-electric cell 20 is connected in series in a line 86 `with the variable resistor 46 and the operating coil 8 8 of the sensitive relay 122, the line 86 containing these components being connected in parallel with the direct current supply lines 82 and 84 from the rectiiier unit 12. The switch .blade 90-of the sensitive relay 22 is normally open relatively to its fixed contact 92 when the relay operating coil 88 is energized, and is connected in series with the. operatingl coil 94 of the second stepping relay `26 in a line 96 connected in parallel between the direct vcurrent supply lines .82 and 84. The operating coil 94 4of the second stepping relay 26, when energized, opens two norrrlally-closed switch blades 98 and 10i) which are connected in series with one another and with the re-setting Switch unit 42 in a line 102 shunted around therelay switch blade 90 from ay point in the line 96 between the relay switch vblade v90 and the operating coil 94 to a connection with `the `direct current supply line 84 beyond the connection yof the relay switch contact 92 therewith.

Similarly, the operating coil 104 of the first stepping relay 24 is connected in series with the matrix-operated switch 72 in a line 106 connected in parallel between the direct current supply lines -82 and S4, and when energized, opens two normally-closed switch blades 108 and 110 from engagement with their contacts 112 and 114, these being connected in series with one another and with the resetting switch component 40 in a line 116 which is shunted around the matrix-operated switch 72 from a point between the latter and the operating coil 104 to a point on the direct current supply line 84 when the switch blade 118 of the resetting switch unit l40 is engaged with the upper contact 120 and disengaged from the lower contact 122 thereof.

Each of the stepping relays 24 and 26 has two banks of contacts 124, 126, and 128, respectively, controlled by rotary contact blades 132, 134 and 136, 138 respectively, rotation thereof being in the direction of the arrows, namely clockwise for the stepping relay 24 and counterclockwise for the stepping relay 26. The blades 132 and 134 are connected by a common line 140 tothe direct current supply line 84, whereas the blades 136 and 138 are connected by lines 142 and 144 respectively through the operating coils 146 and 148 of the lock rc-V lays 28 and 30 to the direct current supply line 82. The upper banks of co-ntacts 124 and 128 of the stepping relays 24 yand 26 are interconnected by lines 150, whereas the lower banks of contacts 126 and 130 thereof are similarly interconnected by lines 152, the connections in both instances being so made that the first contact 124 is connected to the third contact 128, the second contact 124 tothe fourth Contact 128, and so on until the eleventh contact 124 is connected to the first .contact 128 and vthe twelfth contact 124 to the second contact 128. In a 'reverse manner, the lines 152 connect the iirst Contactl 130 v.to the third Contact 126, the second contact 130` to thefourth contact '126, and so on until the eleventh and twelfth contacts '130 are connected respectively tothe first and second contacts 126.

In Vthis manner, the above connections are so made between the two banks of contacts of the stepping relays 24 and 26 that if either of these relays advances without the corresponding advance of the other relay, the next cycle of operation will cause either the operating coil 148 of the lock relay 28 or the operating coil 146 ofthe lock relay 30 ,to be energized, Both lock relays 28 and 30, when energized, close the normally open lower switch blades 154 and 156 respectively upon their respective contacts `158 to interconnect the lines 32 and 34 energizing the stop solenoid 9 of the Teletypesetter operating unit connected to the terminals 36 and 38 so as'to halt the Teletypesetter operating unit and with it the line casting machine. The operating coils 148 and 146 of the lock relays 28 and 30, when energized, also close their normally-open upper switch blades 162 and v164 respectively upon their respective contacts 166 and 168 to close a holding circuit for the operating-coils 146 and 148 through the lines 170 and 172 respectively leading from the line 174 connected through the lower contact 122 of the resetting switch unit 40 to the direct current supply line 84 through the lines 144 and 142 respectively and the lock relay operating coils 148 and 146 respectively to the d -irect current supply line 82. The red and white signal lamps 56 and 58 connected in the lines 176 and 178 between the lines 1.44 and 82 and the lines `142 and 8 2 respectively, indicate when either or both yof the oper-ating `coils 148 and 146 of the lock relays 28 and 30 is ,energized and by their 'different colors indicate which of these is energized.

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the Teletypesetter operating unit is operating nor'- rnallyvto operate l the line-casting machine and to cause the matrices Acalled for by its tape to fall properly from themmatrix magazine into the proper chute. Under these circumstances, .the lswitch 72 `is Yclosed each time a type character impulse causes the bellcrank's of the typesetter operating unit to operate, causing the blades 132 and 134 of the stepping relay 24 to advance one stepeach time these bellcranks operate on a type character impulse. At the' same time, every time a matrix drops from the matrix .magazine into the matrix chute, it interrupts the light beam between the light source 18 ,and the photoelectric cell 20. When this light beam is interrupted, the normally-open switch bladef90 closes upon its lixed contact 92 in response to the de-energization of its operating coil 88, closing the circuit in theline 96 -andlstepping relay operating coil 94 between the direct current supply lines 82 and 84, causing the stepping relay 26 to operate to advance one step each time a matrix is released from the magazine, at the same time opening the normally-closed switch blades 98 and 100 thereof. Under normal conditions, therefore, while the type characters and matrices are being properly delivered, as called for by the tape of the Teletypesetter operating unit, the first and second stepping relays 24 and 26 will operate in step with one another so that their actions are properly synchronized with one another. If, on the other hand, any matrix called for `by the Teletypesetter operating unit tape fails tofall from the magazine into the chute, the lightbeam between the light source 18 and the photo-electric cell 20 is not interrupted, thereby failing to de-energize the operating coil 88 of the sensitive relay 22 and consequently failing to energize the operating coil 94 of the second steppingl relay 26, which as a result fails to move its blades 136 and 138 relatively to their contacts 128 and 130` As a result, the second stepping relay 26 gets out of step by falling behind thevftrstv stepping relay 24 operated by the switch 72- as each type character falls into place. Consequently, the switchblade 138 of the second stepping relay 26 hangs ire while the switch blade 134 thereof continues to advance step by step over its contacts 126 until it engages the second contact beyond synchronized operation, which closes the circuit through the line 122 which connects the last-mentioned contact with the contact upon which the switch blade 138 is halted or hanging tire. This closes the circuit from the direct current supply line 84 through the line 140, blade 134, contact 126, last-mentioned line 152, blade 138, line 144 andfoperating coil 148 of lock relay 28 to direct current supply line 82, completing the circuit.

The consequent. energization of operating coil 148 closes the switch blade 154 of stop relay 28 upon its fixed contact 158, thereby closing the circuit between the lines 32 and 34 and consequently energizing the operating coil 36 of the stop solenoid 9 of the Teletypesetter operating unit, halting the latter and with it the line casting machine. These machines will remain halted until the trouble has been corrected so that the matrix drops properly from the matrix magazine, whereupon the stepping relays 24 and 26 are brought back into synchronism with one another to operate in their proper relationship by the operators depressing the push button actuating the multiple switch units 40, 42 and 44. When the stepping relays 24 and 26 are back in synchronisrn with one another, the circuit is no longer closed between their contacts 126 and 130 through any one of the lines 152.

If, on the other hand, any matrix not called for by the tape of the Teletypesetter operating unit is released, the photo-electric cell 20 again has its light beam from its light source 18 interrupted, again de-energizing the operating coil 88 of the sensitive relay 22, so as to close the switch blade 90 upon its xed contact 92 and re-energize the operating coil 94 of the second stepping relay 26 an additional and undesired time. This causes the blades 136 and 138 of the second stepping relay 26 to get ahead of the blades 132 and 134 of the rst stepping relay 24, energizing the operating coil 146 of thelocE relayE 30 by the movement of the blade `136 additionally over its contacts 128 while the blade 132 is halted relatively to j assess ,.,t f f i" l i its contacts 124, thereby closing the crcuitffr'om the'direct current supply line 84 through the line 140, fbladev'l32," one of the lines 150, the blade 136, line 142, andoperating coil 146 to the direct current supply line 82, therebyv closing the switch blade 156 upon its fixed contact 160 and again closing the circuit between the lines 32 and34 of the controlled circuit`14 so as to again energize thev operatingcoil 36 of the stop solenoid 9 ofthe Teletypesetter operating unit; consequently again halting the latter and the line-casting machine associated therewith until the undesired matrixl is removed and the two step'- ping relays 24 and26 put back into step with one another by the -operators again depressing the gang resettingswitch units 40, 42 and44.

Furthermore, should a matrix be released from-the magazine but *hang or otherwise halt in the assembler entrance at the lmouth ofthe magazine, it continuously' interrupts the-light beam from the light source 18 to vthe photo-electric cell 20 and consequently de-energizesfthe operating coil 88 of the sensitive relay* 22 and cons equently 4continuously energizes the operating coill 94 of the second-stepping relay 26 which therefore again` fails to move its blades 136 and-.138 relatively tovtheir contacts 128 and 130 while the rst stepping relay-.24 continues to be-energized by the character impulses operating the *switch-72. v As-afresult, the second stepping relayY 26 again gets out of step bylfalling behind the first stepping relay 24 and, as a result, the .operating coil 148 of the lock relay/28 is again Venergized to close its switch 154 upon its contact 158,50 as to again close the circuit be-'r tween the lines 32 and 34` ofthe controlled vcircuit 14.-A In this manner, thetoperating coil 36 of the'vstop solenoid: 9 is again energized through the lines 32, 34, and38 and the closed switch :154 of the lock relay 28, haltingthe Teletypesetter .operatingsunit .until the stuck orthanging matrix hasbeen removedor released andthe stepping. relays 24 and 26 brought back'into step withone another by means of the gang switches 40, 42 and 44.

Thus, in the automatic operation of the line-casting machine, in accordance withfthe foregoing description' of the operation of the system 4, the failure of amatrix to fall from the magazine, or the double response lofa character or extra matrix dropping into the line at once throws the stepping relays.r 24 and 26 out of step, hence out of synchronism, and in the above-described manner halting the teletypesetter operating unit until the faulty condition has been detected and corrected. The above- .7 described system'4 thus halts rthe teletypesetter'operating unit approximately two characters beyond the point of malfunction and accordingly halts the line-casting machine. This halting action operates in the manner described above because its first banks of contacts 124 and 128 are so connected by the lines 150 that whenever the rst stepping relay 24 advances two steps beyond the original contact relationship with the second stepping relay 26 so as to energize the iirst lock relay 28, the stop solenoid 9 is energized to halt the teletypesetter operating unit and line-casting machine. On the other hand, the second bank of contacts 126 and 130 are so connected by the lines 152 that if the second stepping relay 26 advances two steps beyond its original contact relationship to the first stepping relay 24, the second lock relay 30 is energized so as to energize the stop solenoid 9 to halt the teletypesetter operating unit and the line casting machine associated therewith. Resetting is accomplished by the use of the gang reset switches 40, 42, 44 as described above, in order to bring the stepping relays 24 and 26 back into their proper contact relationships.

What we claim is:

l. A matrix malfeeding detection system for halting a line-casting machine upon faulty feeding of a matrix from a matrix magazine of the machine into a matrix channel thereof, said system comprising a photo-electric cell subcircuit and light source therefor adapted to be alignedly mounted on the machine with the light beam thereof disposed between the magazine outlet and the matrix channel for interception by matrices movingA into said beam, a type-selection-responsive switch mounted for actuation in response ,to each type character selecting action of the` machine, independentlyfoperable rst and second stepping relaysuhaying relatively movable contact assemblies elec-- trically connected to one another in normally open-circuit relationship during normal matrix feeding but movable relatively to one another into closed-circuit relationship during faulty kmatrix feeding, one of said stepping relays. being controlledly connected to said photo-electric cell subcircuit Afor operation thereby in response to each impulse therefrom resulting yfrom each interception of the light beam byl a matrix, the other of said stepping relays being controlledly connected to said type-selectionresponsive switch for operation thereby in response to eachy actuation of said switch by each type-characterselecting action` of the machine, an electrically-operated machine-halting device adapted to be connected in halting relationship with said machine, and normally-inoperativelocking relay means connected in controlled relationship with said stepping relays and operative in response to the relative motion of said stepping relays into closedcircuit relationship to actuate said machine-halting device to yhalt `said machine.

v2.l A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim l, wherein manually-operated resetting switch means is provided for manually de-activating said locking relay upon correction of the matrix malfeeding.

3j. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 1, ywherein manually-operated resetting switch means is provided for manually actuating one of said stepping relays independently of said type-selectionresponsive switch.

` 4. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 1, wherein manually-operated resetting switch means is provided for manually actuating one of said stepping relays independently of said photo-electric cell subcircuit. u 5'. -A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 2, wherein said resetting switch means also includes means for manually actuating one of said stepping relays independently of said type-selection-responsive switch. 6. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim. 2, wherein said resetting switch means also includes means for manually actuating one of said stepping relays independently of said type-selection-responsive switch, and .wherein said resetting switch means further includes means for manually actuating the other of said stepping relays independently of said photo-electric cell subcircuit.

7. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 1, wherein each of saidstepping relays has two movable contact assemblies and wherein said locking relay means includes two locking relays each connected in controlled relationship with one of said contact as? semblies.

. 8.l A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim l, wherein each stepping relay contact assembly includes a bank of contacts and a contact-engaging memf ber movable into step-by-step engagement with its re-4 spective bank of contacts.

9. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 7, wherein each contact assembly includes a bank of contacts and a contact-engaging member movable into step-by-step engagement therewith. f

10. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to 'claim 8, wherein the individual contacts of the banks of contacts are electrically interconnected in normally out-of-step open-circuit relationship with their respective contact-engaging members during normal matrix feeding but brought into interconnection in in-step closed-circuit relationship upon motion of one contact-engaging membe'r relatively to the other contact-engaging member during faulty matrix feeding.

,11. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 1, wherein each stepping relay includes a pair of banks of contacts and a contact-engaging member mo`vable into step-by-step engagement with each bank, and wherein the individual contacts of one bank of contacts of each pair of banks of one stepping relay are electrically connected in normally out-of-step open-circuit relationship to one bank of contacts of each pair of banks of the other stepping relay but brought into interconnection in in-step closed-circuit relationship upon motion of a contact-engaging member of one bank in one stepping relay relatively to a contact-engaging member of one bank in the other stepping relay.

12. A matrix malfeeding detection system, according to claim 11, wherein said locking relay means includes two locking relays, one locking relay being connected in controlled relationship with one contact-engaging member of each stepping relay and the other locking relay being connected in controlled relationship with the other contact-engaging member of each stepping relay.

No references cited. 

